On 1 March 2020, IP Key South-East Asia (SEA) joined the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) of the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand for a good cause, against the buying, selling, and use of infringing products at the ‘DIP Mini Marathon 2020: Stop Piracy’ in Nonthaburi, Thailand.

Being well aware of the harm piracy does to trade, investment, and the economy on a national, regional, and international scale, the DIP, the Ministry of Commerce, government agencies, private sectors and the IP Key SEA project funded by the European Union have been working hard on the mission against piracy.

To raise awareness among the general audience in Thailand, the DIP hosted the second edition of the DIP Mini Marathon. On this occasion, IP Key SEA embarked on the mission with the DIP by supporting the event. The project organised a booth at the Ministry of Commerce to provide information on intellectual property rights to the participants, promote the project’s mission, and gave away project-branded gifts. Among the giveaways were pens, canvas tote bags, and reusable water bottles.

More than 150 of the participants visited the IP Key SEA booth. Many of them had a lot of fun during the run and also talked to the members of the project management team, inquiring about the IP Key SEA project’s activities, the registration process, intellectual property law enforcement, and intellectual property rights in general.

‘The DIP Mini Marathon was very well organised and very well attended,’ said Tiago Guerreiro, IP Key SEA Project Leader, ‘The European Union, through the IP Key SEA project, is keen to participate in such events to create awareness about intellectual property rights.’